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Senior forward Katie Brooks sure picked the right time to come back to the Oaks Christian of Westlake Village girls basketball team after nursing an ankle injury for two weeks.

With it’s undefeated record in the Tri-Valley League on the line Brooks scored 20 points, grabbed eight rebounds, had two blocks and more importantly showed no ill effects of the bothersome ankle to lead Oaks Christian to a 62-48 victory against host Oak Park.

“I really wanted to play tonight and help my team because Oak Park is obviously our toughest competition,” Brooks said.

The Lions (19-4, 9-0) got off to a hot start scoring the first eight points of the game and did a good job neutralizing post player Lauren Varney.

Brooks defended Varney with help from perimeter players coming down to double team evey time she touched the ball.

“I didn’t get to finish the game the last time against Oak Park and I wanted to help guard Lauren to help us stay on top in league.”

Oaks Christian took a 16-8 lead before Kelsey Haines and Erin Matsumoto each made 3-pointers in the second quarter to help Oak Park tie the game at 19-19.

That would be the closest Oak Park (14-10, 9-2) would get.

The Lions extended a four-point halftime lead with a backbreaking 18-5 third quarter run set up by a suffocating 1-2-1-1 press.

Brooks, freshman Beth Mounier, sophomore Brianna Barrett and junior Crystal Owusu all had baskets during the run and all of a sudden the Lions were ahead 44-28.

Oak Park was so frustrated with the press and the officials that Kelsey Haines and coach Rob Hall were both whisteled for technicals adding to Oaks Christian’s fire.

“Our intensity was great from the start,” Brooks said. “Everybody was playing with energy and we wouldn’t let up.”

Owusu had 12 points, Barrett had 11 points and five steals and Mounier had eight points.

Varney finished with 17 points to lead the Eagles but was swarmed all night and was six of 17 from the field fighting off two and sometimes three defenders.

Brett Hall had 12 points, Matsumoto had eight and Lindsey Courtney made two 3-pointers for Oak Paek.

Oaks Christian had an advantage at the free throw line making 16 of 29 while Oak Park was 13 of 17.

Oaks Christian now has won 24 consecutive league games dating to Jan. 29, 2008 when it suffered a 49-40 loss against St. Bonaventure of Ventura.

The Lions can’t rest with a 4:30 p.m. game today against Nordhoff of Ojai.

Oaks Christian coach Andre Chevalier may have summed up the night the best way.

“It was a great win for us because it was Oak Park, we got Katie back into the mix, we played with energy and passion and we played overall like Oaks Christian can play.”

The James Monroe girls basketball team are undefeated in the Valley mission league as well. Where is the coverage on the Monroe Vikings that are doing it will a major player nursing an ankle injury?

james

The James Monroe girls basketball team are undefeated in the Valley Mission league as well. Where is the coverage on the Monroe Vikings that are doing it will a major player nursing an ankle injury? No senior on their starting line up.

james

The James Monroe girls basketball team are undefeated in the Valley Mission league as well. Where is the coverage on the Monroe Vikings that are doing it will a major player nursing an ankle injury?

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